Slovaks of the NHL (July 1st update)

[stastny12]

Slovakia is maybe not even top10 country in ice hockey yet. Hope the game will get bigger there also some day!

Then you do not watch a international hockey, apparently..

 

[Choralone]

I miss the Los Angeles Kings being the unofficial Team Slovakia, and I'm wishing the Slovakian hockey program all the best in the future.

 

[slovakiasnextone]

It was a bit harsh from him, but in reality Slovakia barely is a top-10 country. Gap between countries like Denmark/Latvia and Slovakia is smaller than Slovakia and Czech for example. In my opinion:

Canada
USA
Russia
Sweden
Finland

Czech

Switzerland
Germany
Slovakia
Denmark

You are right that gap between Czechs and Slovaks is bigger than between Slovakia and the countries ranked around the 8th place. However saying that Slovakia is not a top 10 nation is stretching it when you look at actual results. The only time we have finished outside of top 10 in the last decade was in 2017 when there was an off ice battle in Slovak hockey and players were on strike and we had a very questionable coach (with all respect to his work with kids) and then you have to go all the way back to the 2010 IHWC when we finished 12th.

Slovakia has been in the top 10 in all IHWC categories over the past decade. Sure, we can have an off year when we get relegated like the u18 team did, but we can also have a good year where we finish 5th.

We are currently lacking in top end talent, but we have a number of decent prospects who if they don't make it in the NHL, could make it in top European league. At least for now and for the next few years, we definitely have a depth advantage over Denmark who struggle without their top players.

Slovakia in the IHWC in the last decade:
2019 9th
2018 9th
2017 14th
2016 9th
2015 9th
2014 9th
2013 8th
2012 2nd
2011 10th
2010 12th

Slovakia at the WJC in last decade:
2019 8th
2018 7th
2017 8th
2016 7th
2015 3rd
2014 8th
2013 8th
2012 6th
2011 8th
2010 8th

Slovakia at the u18 WC in last decade:
2019 10th
2018 7th
2017 6th
2016 5th
2015 7th
2014 8th
2013 9th
2012 11th
2011 10th
2010 8th

 

[Elvs]

Maxim Cajkovic was the only Slovak player drafted this year, taken by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 3rd round (#89 overall). Added to the unsigned prospects list.

Also Marko Dano was not tendered a contract extension with the Winnipeg Jets. Moved to the UFA list.

 

[Elvs]

Martin Marincin re-signed with Toronto, 1 year/$700k

 

[Elvs]

and Sekera bought out.

 

[alko]

And Panik 4 years deal with Caps. 4 Years!!!

 

[Muuri]

And Panik 4 years deal with Caps. 4 Years!!!

Time to Panik.


I think Sekera will find another contract in NHL.

 

[Elvs]

Richard Panik signed by Washington.

Patrik Rybar will play in Liiga despite Detroit offering him a new contract.

Adam Liska is staying in the KHL.

 

[Elvs]

Andrej Sekera to Dallas.

 

[Elvs]

Tomas Jurco back in the NHL after missing half of last season recovering from back surgery and spending the other half on an AHL contract. Signed by the Edmonton Oilers.

 

[Elvs]

Peter Cehlarik has re-signed with Boston.

 

[Elvs]

Robert Lantosi signed a contract with the Providence Bruins of the AHL. As he's still only 23 years of age, I decided to put him in the "unsigned prospects category" as a Bruins prospect.

 

[tfong]

whoops is Czech.

 

[slovakiasnextone]

Marko Dano signed a one year two-way contract with Columbus.

 

[Trap Jesus]

 

[alko]

How could it be in 5 years?

Optimistic:
Richard Pánik, F
Tomáš Tatar, F
Martin Marinčin, D
Tomáš Jurčo, F
Peter Cehlárik, F
Christián Jaroš, D
Erik Černák, D
Martin Fehérváry, D
Marián Studenič, F
Adam Húska, G
Adam Ružička, F
Martin Pospíšil, F
Maxim Čajkovič, F
Dávid Hrenák, G
Adam Liška, F
Patrik Rybár, G
Martin Chromiak, F

Pesimistic:
Richard Pánik, F
Tomáš Tatar, F
Peter Cehlárik, F
Christián Jaroš, D
Erik Černák, D
Martin Fehérváry, D
Marián Studenič, F
Martin Pospíšil, F
Patrik Rybár, G

Place your bets.

 

[Jovavic]

Winning that WC at home was the pinnacle for their program, it's been a steady decline since then. I'm excited to see Dano again, hope he can recreate that chemistry with Wennberg

 

[Faterson]

Winning that WC at home was the pinnacle for their program

That was in Sweden. We've never won anything at home – quite the opposite (missed the play-offs both times).

 

[Devil Dancer]

FWIW the Caps and Caps fans are really high on Fehérváry.

 

[Jovavic]

That was in Sweden. We've never won anything at home – quite the opposite (missed the play-offs both times).

Ah, apologies, my memory isn't the greatest.

Has losing someone like Demitra, someone who I see as one of best Slovak players ever, hurt the popularity of the sport and maybe kids that might've tried hockey have turned to other sports? That is still a horrible tragedy after all these years and I think about it often.

 

[crackdown44]

I think Pospisil and Ruzicka both have NHL potential in Calgary. Pospisal especially as a gritty bottom 6er

 

[Faterson]

Has losing someone like Demitra, someone who I see as one of best Slovak players ever, hurt the popularity of the sport and maybe kids that might've tried hockey have turned to other sports?

No, quite the opposite – it turned him into a national martyr/hero, that way increasing the popularity of the sport, I think.

In a recent (silly, but) TV show looking for the "Greatest Slovaks of All Time" (overall, not just athletes), Demitra was, based on votes by viewers, ranked very high (top 20, if I remember correctly?), and (if I'm not mistaken) as the best hockey player, which simply isn't true. But the tragedy increased his stardom. (I wish it hadn't...)

 

[Outofbodyinhungary]

Real question is when we will ever see again a Slovak jump straight to the nhl in his draft year. 2020? No. 2021? No. 2022 or 2023? Maybe.

 

[Jason MacIsaac]

Studenic is really flying under the radar but he was the most impressive forward prospectat camp last year. More than Anderson, McLeod or Bastian. He may get his first cup of coffee in the NHL this season as an injury callup but I expect 40 points in 60 AHL games or something along those lines.